Tag: characters

In my upcoming Young Adult Fantasy novel Everdream, one of the most important characters spends the whole book sleeping. Queen Aderyn, young Prince Kynan's mother, may be Dreaming quietly throughout her son's quest, but her story is the catalyst for his journey and for a change that will change the face of Everdream and the Wake… Continue reading Queen Aderyn

One of the fun things about doing research for my historical fiction based on a true story, Hold Fast, is finding out about real-life characters that fit into the story. Among the people Ann MacLean would have known at the refugee camp at Machiche, Quebec was the Loyalist captain Jeptha Hawley. Jeptha first came to… Continue reading Jeptha Hawley

In doing the research for my work in progress, Hold Fast, I've come across some very interesting facts. Not least of these facts is the Scottish laird with the nickname "The Wicked Man". You see, when I got Ann MacLean's story, all I knew was that she was the granddaughter of a Scottish laird who… Continue reading The Wicked Man

When Prince Kynan arrives in Everdream to rescue his mother the queen, he finds more than he'd bargained for. The world is as vast and limitless as the real world—the Wake. And amid its forests, rivers, and ruins there lurks a host of mythical beasts, all bent on hunting down any living Dreamer and killing… Continue reading The Mysterious Grigor

When I wrote Across the Deep, it took me a decade. A decade of sifting through the historical record and the treasure trove of letters and journals left to me and my cousins by my grandfather. Every new thing I read brought these people to life in new and vibrant ways. You see, it's one… Continue reading Uncovering the Stories of the Past

Right now I'm working on a historical fiction based on a true story—the remarkable true story of Ann MacLean. But I wouldn't have even heard of Ann if it weren't for another Loyalist who lived at the refugee camp at Machiche with her—my five times great grandfather Josiah Cass. As the founder of a prolific… Continue reading Josiah Cass, Loyalist

My latest YA fantasy manuscript centres around a young prince, Kynan, the heir to the throne of his land of Tyernas. Kynan embarks on a quest to rescue his mother from her ten-year slumber in the magical realm of Everdream. In the Wake, there is nothing much to recommend him. He is scrawny for his… Continue reading Prince Kynan

My current work in progress, a historical fiction, centres around a bit of an enigma: Ann MacLeod MacLean McIntyre Cass. History only records her as a Loyalist widow, mother, and refugee, and her origin is in shadow. But a story told by her descendants to my cousin may shed some light onto an unusual and incredible… Continue reading Who is Ann MacLean?

The internet is full of helpful lists of questions to ask your date so you can get to know them. But have you ever thought about using these questions to get to know your characters? After all, you're about to embark on an intimate journey with this person. You need to know more than just… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: 10 Questions to Ask Your Character

Ever find that your characters lack dimension? That they seem more like cardboard cutouts than real people? Or maybe you find the opposite - your characters are so alive they do or say things you didn't expect. As a writer, you've probably experienced both. Even if you're not a writer, I imagine there are plenty… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: The Secret Life of Characters